CHAPTER - 1
"What.The.Actual.F**k", Shivam, and Aashna said at the same time, Ragini shook her head, reprimanding them to maintain the decorum while Reetu giggled at their expressions.
The situation is the same for all Isha's colleagues.
"She is a freaking queen of this Empire, yet worked like a normal designer, damn... she didn't even show her power when Ashley Parker misbehaved with her, not once but multiple times,I could have never done that if I was in her place", Aashna said
"True, I am proud to have known her personally and befriended her... She is still our friend right ?", Shivam asked
"If you know Isha, you have the answer", Ragini said
"Of course, she is", Shivam said and Ragini nodded with a smile...
Abhyansh took the stairs to the stage and offered his palm to his wife, who took it with a smile and ascended the stairs. The crowd went on 'Awe' at the BEAST's gesture for the queen. All the dignitaries stood up greeting the king & queen, and wishing him Happy birthday. The men shook hands with the king and greeted the queen with a 'Namaste' joining both their hands which Isha reciprocated by joining her hands, and with a smile much to her husband's dismay. While the women chief guests joined their hands and wished Abhyansh to which he nodded politely. No matter his rude personality or his BEAST image, he never failed to respect a woman, conditions apply.
Soon, the host announced that Isha would launch all the new CSR initiatives which included a few more multi-specialty hospitals in all the under-developed regions that do not have a hospital within 10-20-kilometer radius, followed by Schools, Women's health care etc. But one thing that drew everyone's attention is the awareness camp for female children and women about what is s*x, good touch, bad touch, etc. This is specially suggested by Isha when Abhyansh asked her to look after this. She didn't want any other girl to go through what she did or even worse, she just got lucky that her senses kicked at the right moment when Madan was touching her inappropriately, otherwise with her knowledge, she wouldn't have known, and even the thought that many women are living in worse conditions than her, vulnerable to hungry vultures all around them scared her, she also made her husband tighten the security and appoint his trusted men to protect women at all times which Abhyansh implemented immediately though there are already many practices present there to prevent s*xual abuse.
After the event is over, the host requests everyone to leave for the special lunch which is arranged by the king & queen for all the employees. After the crowd started dispersing to the dining halls, Ranveer came to Abhyansh and wished him which he accepted with a curt nod as his wife was right beside him, otherwise he would have beaten him to a pulp for spamming his phone.
"Ishu... My bacha... you handled it very gracefully, I'm proud of you...", Ranveer said hugging his sister, to which she reciprocated with a smile...
"Thank you bhayyu, for coming here... I know you came for me... but who told you about this ? It was a last-minute decision", Isha asked
"Ragini/Must be Ragini", Abhyansh and Avyan said at the same time, Ranveer's eyes widened at this... Avyan's mouth slipped while Abhyansh did it purposely to push Ranveer into trouble...
"Ragini ??", Isha asked with confusion, looking at her brother's worried face, she frowned... What's going on with him, she wondered...
"I called her to ask if you could get early logout from the office today, as I was planning to take you for dinner today, you know it's been many days since I met you Ishu so...", he trailed and she nodded not completely believing his story, if he wanted, he could have called her directly and asked, Ragini is sure her boss but she never restricted her if she wanted to leave early so why would her brother do that ?? and he wanted to have dinner with her today ? on her husband's birthday ? weird...
"Okay, let's go and have lunch", she said
"We just had", Abhyansh and Avyan said at the same time again...
"Woah... The Devil brothers are in Sinc today huh...", Ranveer said
"Rajput...", Abhyansh warned...
"Bhai... shhh...", Isha slapped her brother's arm...
"I know we had our food just some time ago, but the employees would feel good if we had the special lunch we arranged for them with them...", Isha said with a hopeful smile, and Abhyansh didn't have the heart to refuse her, so he nodded...
All four of them walked to the dining hall, the whole hall became silent having the BEAST's presence, Isha stood shocked as she didn't imagine her husband's aura so fearful that even with thousands of people in the hall, it became pin-drop silent within seconds.
"Please continue with your lunch, We are here to join you", Isha said softly, Abhyansh nodded, Avyan and Ranveer smiled at them to ease their worries which worked to some extent...
They started having their lunch, resuming their conversations, some approached Abhyansh requesting to join their table, but Ranveer politely refused as he knew his sister would want to sit with her friends and colleagues, so did he especially with her sister's boss and best friend.
"We can join my friends, I want to introduce them to Rana sa and bhai for a long time now...", Isha said
"Yes, let's go", a rather enthusiastic response came from Ranveer, Avyan stopped his smile with difficulty, Isha didn't notice it and Ranveer sighed in relief thanking God but it was too early...
"Your brother is too eager, don't you think ?", Abhyansh said
"This is why I call him Devil", Ranveer muttered to Avyan...
"I was just excited to meet my sister's friends, like her brother, not like Ranveer Rajput, okay ?", Ranveer said and Abhyansh raised his brow, which raised Isha's doubts more but she let it go for now...
"I hope they react normally like all the crowd did", Isha said
"The employees didn't react normally bhabhi ma... Have you not noticed their shocked faces, I'm sure 99% of the tables in this dining hall will have you as the topic of discussion", Avyan said
"I agree", Ranveer said
"Bhai, Avyan, you both are not at all helping", Isha said with worry lines on her forehead.
"They will react normally, if any, they are proud of you for being calm, kind, and a great friend that you are", Abhyansh said softly making her smile, he always knew the right words to say to calm her...
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"I can't believe Isha, our sweet Isha is the queen of this huge empire and Ajmer...", Shivam said for the nth time...
"I think I might faint", Aashna said
"Yeah... I understand, my reaction was the same when I got to know, in fact, worse... I couldn't sleep for two nights...", Reetu said, Ragini sighed at her exaggeration...
"Now, I understand why Bharat got so offended when Ashley spoke arrogantly to Isha, Yuvraj Avyan, and Yuvraj Ranveer's involvement on our first day... everything makes sense now", one of their colleagues said...
They keep discussing all this when they hear a throat-clearing sound... They all stood up looking at Abhyansh, Isha, Avyan, and Ranveer.
"Um... I was thinking if we could join you guys", Isha said
"Of course... Pleasure is all ours, please", Ragini said immediately, as none of the others were in the right mind to respond without fumbling in the presence of the BEAST. All the four settled there, but it was so awkward, Isha couldn't talk to her friends in their presence as she knew they couldn't respond to her honestly and her husband, her brother-in-law and her brother understood this.
"We'll go and get the food", Ranveer said, Avyan stood up too...
Isha was about to get up but Abhyansh held her palm, and pressed it, before getting up...
"I'll get it for the both of us", Abhyansh said and got up shocking the crowd...
"Rana sa...", she started, wanting to ask him to bring something light as she was already full...
"I know", he said and left from there leaving everyone wide-mouthed. Even all the employees are in shock seeing the king having food with them as one among them, and he like any other husband was taking food for his wife.
"guys... say something... I know you must be mad, but I have my reasons to hide this... I hope you forgive me...", Isha said softly...
"God, we are just surprised, Ishu... Maybe a little angry but hearing your soft tone, even that vanished", Aashna said hugging Isha... Everyone reacted the same as her, and even praised her for being a good friend just like her husband predicted.
"I'll help Maharaj with your food", Ragini said getting up, as she received a text from Ranveer to come to the food counter.
"He would manage, it's okay Ragini", Isha said
"I need to refill my food as well Ishu... So Chill", Ragini said and Isha nodded with a smile... and she left...
"Girl... That was so cool during the inauguration, you were so graceful, you made me so happy, all those bit**es who used to gossip about you will shut their mouths now", Reetu hugged Isha to which Isha giggled at her choice of words...
Abhyansh and Avyan came back, Abhyansh placed one plate in front of her which had her food, while Avyan placed two bowls, one hand Gulab Jamun and Rabri, and the other had a sizzling brownie...
"Bhabhi ma... your favorite desserts", Avyan said, to which Isha gave a wide smile having it first before the food making Abhyansh shake his head at his wife's love for sweets.
"Where is bhai ?", Isha asked
"Here", Ranveer made in time, before his brother-in-law made some shady remark that could have his sister to doubt him more, this is why he called Ragini, to warn her to be careful as Isha started getting suspicious...
After 5 minutes, Ragini returned with her filled plate.
"Rana sa... I want to introduce you to my friends and colleagues... You know Ragini and Reetu already, this is Aashna...", Isha said pointing to Aashna, who joined her hands, greeting the king to which he gave a nod... "This is Shivam... I told you about him, remember", she said and Abhaynsh nodded forwarding his hand to Shivam shocking him, he smiled widely in delight and instantly shook the king's hand.
Isha told how Shivam tried to stop Abhay from flirting with Isha by purposely talking about her husband so that he would know she was married and off-limits. Abhaynsh has been impressed with him since then...
Isha went on introducing her friends and then her husband, Avyan, and her brother to them. Ranveer made some good conversations with her friends and Avyan did too.
The eventful lunch came to an end soon, Abhaynsh invited all of them to the palace for lunch the coming Sunday and everyone was delighted and thanked him for inviting them and they would surely make it.
After the event, Abhyansh and Isha moved to the donation camp and started donating clothes and other necessary things to the people. People's love made Isha so happy while her kindness made them grateful and love the king and queen even more. Ranveer too helped the couple with the donations, while Avyan handled the work in the office, and after finishing it, he joined them at the end.
After that, they sat there for some time, taking the hospitality of the people and Abhyansh listened carefully to the problems they mentioned, he didn't say he would find a solution for all of them, he right away provided the solutions and asked his men to start working on them immediately that made Isha proud of him. She now understood why he was known as the best king their clan had ever seen, though he didn't talk much or is approachable, he made sure his people didn't suffer.
It's time to leave, Ranveer, and Avyan left to their respective palaces greeting the people, while Abhyansh and Isha went to their Penthouse.